File drawer



May s, 1962 C. H. VAN DONK ETAL FILE DRAWER Filed OCT.. 19, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 1 CORNELIUS H.VAN DONK ORAN R.CLEEREMAN ATTOR NEYS May 8,1962 c. H. VAN DONK ET AL 3,033,637

FILE DRAWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CORNELIUS H.VAN DONK ORAN R.CLEEREMAN Filed OCt. 19, 1959 ATTORNEYS c. H. VAN DoNK ET AL 3,033,637

FILE DRAWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS May 8, 1962 c. H. VAN DONK ET AL3,033,637

FILE DRAWER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed OCC. 19, 1959 INVENTORS CORNELIUS HVAN DONK ORAN RCLREMAN ATTORNEYS United States latenty FILE DRAWERCornelius H. Van Donk, 1337 E. Mason St., GreenBay, Wis., and Oran R.Cleereman, Green Bay, Wis.j said Cleereman assigner to said Van DonkFiled Oct. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 847,320 13 Claims. (Cl. S12-303) Thisinvention `appertains to le cabinets, and more particularly to a drawerconstruction of the so-called eX- panding V-type and is an improvementon the prior invention illustrated in the Van Donk pending applicationSerial No. 588,852, now Patent No. 2,917,052.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide animproved iile cabinet drawer of the expanding V-type embodying a tiltingfollower. panel and a tilting front wall or panel, the follower panelandthe front Wall or panel being tiltable independently. of one anotherand releasable from a tilted position to a vertical positionindependently of one another, whereby the follower panel or the draweryfront can be used separately when desired for the removal or replacingof files, and Ifor the reading of titles on le jackets, or whereby boththe follower panel and drawer front can be tilted to provide desiredspace to permit the examining of lile contents with-` out removing a lefrom the drawer.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide means forreleasing both the follower panel and the drawer front (should both. betilted), upon the closing of the drawer so that they will automaticallyreturn to their upright vertical position, the means also functioning toautomatically release with the follower panel or the drawer front shouldone or the other only be in a tilted position. e

A further important object of the invention is to provide a manuallyoperable means, as well as an automatic the manual means employed forpermitting Ithe return.

of the follower panel from a tilted position to a raised verticalposition, the gure being on a larger vscale than FIGURES l and v2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary 4longitudinal sectional View through thedrawer taken `on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3l looking in the direction ofthe arrows, the View showing the follower panel in its upright positionin ,full lines and in its tilted position in dotted lines;

means, for permitting return of the follower panel and drawer front froma tilted position to a vertical position.

A further important `object of the invention is to construct theautomatic and manually operable releasing means, in such a manner as notto interfere with the adjustment of the follower panel back and forth.

A stil-l further important object of the invention is the provision ofmeans VA,for forming the sides of the drawer for receiving the slidehangers of the follower panel, whereby the inside wid-th of the drawerwill not be lessened and so that a full width drawer will be had.

Another still further object of the invention is ythe provision of novelmeans for arranging and disposing the automatic and manually -releasablemean-s for the follower panel and drawer front .in such a way that lesican Vbe readily placed in the drawer or removed therefrom, withoutstriking any objectionable obstructions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists lin thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be.hereinafter more 'specically described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which drawings, l A

FIGURE l is a longitudinal sectional view through the improved iiledrawer, taken on lthe line 1`-1 of FIG- URE 3, looking in the directionof the arrows, a portion of the rear wall of the iile cabinet beingshown, the drawer being in its closed position with the follower paneland the front of the drawer in their closed upright positions;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the drawer similartoFIGURE 1, but showing the drawer f FIGURE 5 is a detail fragmentaryhorizontal sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE `4, lookinginthe direction of the arrows, the view illustrating the meansemployed-for releasing the mechanism' for holding'the follower panel ina tilted position from the operating rods carried by the sides of thedrawer and operated by contact with the rear of the cabinet upon theclosing of the drawer; e

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional View through t-he drawer taken onIthe line 6 6 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, `theview illustratin'g'the inner face of .the drawer front or panel with'parts thereof broken away and in section to illustrate the catchmechanism lfor holding the drawer in a closed yposition in thecabinet-against accidentaly opening thereof;

FIGURE 7*'-is afragr'nentary ldetail vertical sectional view taken onthe line 7 7 of FIGUREV 6, lookingvin the direction of the arrows,through `the drawer front, the View illustrating apart of the manuallyoperable mechanism for permitting the release of thedrawerfront fromati-lted position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on ythe line 8 8Yof FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, the Viewillustrating the means employed lfor permitting the automatic release ofthefront panel, from a tilted position;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, but showing the front of thedrawerl or panelin its closed position; FIGURE 10 is a detailfragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 10-10 ofyFIGURES, looking in thedirection of the arrows, and

FIGURE l1 is adetail' fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on theline 11--1i1 of FIGURE 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, theView illustrating the catch mechanism for holding the drawer in a closedposition in a cabinet, a fragment of one side wall of the cabinet beingalso shown.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter- ,D lgenerally, indicates the improved le cabinet drawerk andthe same is mounted for sliding movement in a cabinet. gThe cabinet canbe of'a type now in common use and hence the same has not been-illustrated in detail in the'drawin'gs.

However, in FIGURES 1 and lljasuflieientportion of tends to the front'of the' cabinet and the front of the cabinet is provided `with a numberof openings for receiving the desiredfnmber of-drawersj. The wall |16adi and a rear wall 20. The front of the drawer is normally closed by afront panel or wall 21, and the lower edge of the front wall or panel 21is connected to the bottom Patented May 8, n17962 3 wall 18 hy means ofa hinge 22, whereby the front wall can be swung toward and away -t'romthe front edges of the side walls 19. As in the usual practice, thefront wall or panel 21 extends a considerable distance above the sideWalls 19. The forward swinging movement of the front wall or panel 21 islimited by means, which will be later set forth, and this means is alsoemployed for holding the wall at a desired tilted angleso as to expandthe working size of the drawer. The front Wall or panel 21 is norm-allyheld in a vertical closed position against the liront edges of the sidewalls 19 by expansion coil spring 23. The terminals of these springs areconnected respectively to the side walls 19 and to the sides of thefront wall 21 v above the hinge 22. The front wall is also provided witha U-shaped pull handle 24.

The bottom wall 18 is provided with spaced longitudinally extendingstruck down U-shaped guides 25 and rigidly mounted in these guides arelongitudinally extending latch rack bars 26. These rack bars 26 are ofan inverted U-shape in cross-section and combine with the guides 25 tostrengthen and add rigidity to the bottom wall 18. The rack bars 26 havestruck down therefrom rearwardly inclined teeth 27 and the teeth definetherebetween keeper openings 28, for a purpose, which will also laterappear. Again, by providing the rack bars 26, we strengthen the bottomof the drawer and also Y eliminate the necessity `of weakening thebottom of the drawer by forming the keeper openings 28 therein. Thekeeper openings function in conjunction with a latch mechanism 29 forholding a sliding follower panel 30 in a selected adjusted position inthe drawer relative to the front Wall 21.

The side walls Y19 adjacent to their upper,V ends are struck outwardly,as at 31, to provide longitudinally extending guide channel ways 32. Theupper edges of the walls are bent inwardly and downwardly, as at 33, tocomplete the channel Ways. vThese channel ways receive certain operatingmechanism so that such mechanism will lie beyond the inner surface ofthe drawer. Thus, the full width of the drawer is maintained. 'Ilhe sidewalls 19 also carry outwardly extending guide tracks 34 which ride insuitable supports (not shown) carried by the cabinet.

The front wall or panel 21 includes a front metallic `sheet having itsside edges bent inwardly, as at 35, to add rigidity to the wall and toadd to the appearance thereof. These side bent in portions 35 havesecured theretoor formed directly thereon rearwardly directed anges 36.Connected to the flanges 36 by means of pivot pins 37, are triangularshaped latch plates 38. 'Ille inner lower corners of the latch plates 38have formed thereon forwardly directed ngers 39, the purpose of whichwill later appear. The rear upper corners of the latch plates havesecured thereto inwardly projecting headed latch pinsg40. These headedlatch pins 40 are slidably received inV inclined keyhole slots A41. Theslots 41 are formed in keeper plates 42, which are welded or otherwiserigidly vsecured to the channel` walls 31, and hence these keeper plates42 lie within the plane of the lower portions of the side walls 19. Thelatch plates 38 are slidably received between the side walls19 andkeeper plates 42. The forward ends of the keyhole slots 41 constitutekeeper seats 43 for the latch pins 40 (see FlG. 2), when the 4front wall21 is pulled forwardly to a tilted position. The pins 40 Afitting in thekeeper seats 43 hold the front wall in its tilted position against theforward and rearward movement thereof.

As set forth in, the objects of the specication, it is to be noted thatmeans is provided f or automatically .releasing the latch plates 38 whenthefdrawer is slid to,

its full closed'position inthe cabinet, and 'that manual means isprovided for releasing the latchr plates 38, so

that the drawer front 21 can return to its normal closed 44 is mountedintermediate its ends on a hinge pin 45 and the upper end of the rockplate is provided with a rearwardly directed operating finger piece 46.The lower end of the rock plate carries a transversely extending crossbar 47 and this cross bar is of a length to extend into the bent backportions of the drawer front sheet. The ends of the bar 47 have rigidlysecured thereto depending arms 48. The lower ends of these arms aredisposed in the path of the swinging movement of the latch plates 38 anddirectly` forward of the fingers 39.

Considering that the front wall 21 is in its tilted position as shown inFIGURES 2 and 8, and it is desired to manually release the latch plates38 so that the front wall will return to its vertical position, then thelinger piece 46 is pushed inwardly by the lingers of the operator andthis will swing the upper end of the plate 44 forwardly and the lowerend rearwardly. This moves the arms 48 into contact with the ngers 39swinging the latch plates 38 on their pivots 37 moving the headed latchpins 4G out of the keeper seats 43. As the headed latch pins reach the4main portions of the keyhole slots 41, the headedpins will ride in themain portions of of these slots and the spring 23 will return the frontwall to its upright closed position. lt is preferred to finish ol theinner face of the front wall so that all operating mechanism will becompletely housed for the purpose of not only aiding appearance, but toprevent tiles from catching in said mechanism. Thus, the inner face ofthe front wall sheet has welded or otherwise secured thereto a coverplate 49 the main body portion of which is spaced from said sheet. Theupper edge of the sheet itself can be folded rearwardly and thendownwardly, as at 50, to comvertical position under iniiuence of thesprings 23. The

means for manually releasing the latch plates 38 embodies an operatingrock plate 44. The operating rock plate plete this enclosure and thelinger piece y46 can protrude through a slot in the bent down portion50. It is to be noted at this time that a leaf spring 51 is housedwithin the enclosure formed by the front sheet and the bent down portion50 and that this spring holds the upperV end of the operating plate 44in a rearward tilting position with its finger piece `46 extended.

The means for automatically operating the latch plates 38 to release thesame includes longitudinally extending operating hars 52 located in thechannel ways 32 of the yside walls 19. These operating rods 52 extendsubstantiallythe full length of the drawer and are mounted for swingingmovement forwardly toward the front wall 21 and rearwardly toward therear end of the drawer. Hence, each operating bar 52 is carried by aplurality of rock links 53. The upper ends ofthe links are pivoted, asat 54, to their respective bars 52 and the lower ends of .the links arepivoted Ias at 55, to the walls 31 of the channel ways 32. Contractile.coil springs 56 are employed for holding Ithe links 53 in a rearwardtilted position` with the operating bars 52 in a lowered rearwardposition, with the rear ends of bars extending beyond the rear wall 20of the drawer. These springs 56 have their lower ends secured to theside walls 19 of the drawers and their upper ends to the rearmost links53 above their pivots 55.

Stops 57 f'limit the rearward swinging movement of the links g53 andstops 58 limit theiorward swinging movement of the links 53. These stops57 and 58 are arranged in spaced relation to one another and are carriedby the side walls 119 of the drawer and are located within the channelportions 32 thereof. It is to =be noted that as the links 53 moveforwardly, that the same reach a vertical position and that these linksfunction not only to move the operating bars V52 forwardly but to alsoraise the bars in a direction toward the upper part of the drawer.

In operation of the means for automatically moving the front wall orpanel A21 to its closed upright position, and considering that the frontor panel 21 is in its tilted position, as. shown in FIGURE 2, then theoperating rods 52 are in a rearward lowered position with the rear endsof the rods extending rearwardly of the back wall 20 of the drawer. Whenthe drawer is pushedinto the cabinet, see FIG. l, the rear ends of therods 52 engage yand strike against the rear wall of the cabinet C andconsequently, the rods 52 will be pushed forwardly against the tensionof the springs 56. As the rods move forwardly the same travel over thepins 40 and upon raising movement of the rods the same will engage thepins 48 and lift the same out of the keeper notches 43 releasing thelatch plates 38. The pins 4t) can now ride in the body portions of theslots 4l and the front wall or panel 21 will now swing to its closedposition under the influence of the springs 23. As long as the drawer isin its closed position, the rods 52 will be held in their forward raisedposition. However, as soon as the drawer' is opened, the rods 52 will bepulled back-ward and to a lowered position by the springs `56.

In some instances, it may be desirable to latch the drawer in thecabinet C against the accidental movement thereof, and in FIGURES 6- andl1, we have shown one preferred form of a latching mechanism and thismechanism is generally indicated by the reference character 59. Slidablymounted on the rear face of the front drawer panel sheet for transversemovement is `an operating plate 60. The plate can @be mounted for itssliding movement in yany preferred manner on the panel sheet of thedrawer front and as illustrated guide slots 61 are provided and theseslots receive headed guide pins 62 carried by the drawer front. Securedto the inner end of the plate 6i) is a forwardly directed linger piece63 which extends through a guide slot 64 formed in the panel sheet ofthe drawer front. This finger piece is so `arranged as to extend intothe pull handle 24 of the drawer. The sliding movement of the plate 69is limited by the length of the slot 64. The contractile spring l65 isemployed for normally pulling the plate 60 toward one side of the drawerand the upper end of the plate has formed thereon or.

secured thereto a keeper hook 66. This keeper hook 66 is adapted toengage the keeper tongue 17 formed on the side wall of the cabinet.Obviously, when the latch linger 66 engages in rear of the keeper tongue17 the drawer is held against accidental opening movement, By moving theiin-ger piece 63 latenally, the latch finger can be withdrawn from thetongue 17 to permit the opening of the drawer. When the drawer is movedto its closed position, the latch linger 66 will be automatically forcedback rby the inclination of the tongue 17. The latch 59 also cooperateswith the front hinged Wall or panel and its operating 4mechanism inthat, the latch not only holds the drawer in the cabinet but alsopositively holds the front wall or panel 21 against swinging movement.Thus, the latch holds all parts within the cabinet and eliminates dangerof files tilting the front panel or wall outward.

Now referring to the follower panel 30 it is to be recalled, that thesame is tiltable to -a rearward position and in an opposite directionfrom the front wall or panel 21. When the follower panel 30 is in atilted position the same is held or releasably latched in `suchposition, and this latch means is generally indicated by the referencecharacter 67. The latch 4means 67 is manually releasable so yas topermit the follower panel to return to an upright vertical position `andthe latch means is automatically operated upon the closing of the drawerand all of this will now be described.

The follower panel 30 includes a transversely extending 'oase Vstrip 68of a U-shape .in cross-section and the ends of this strip yare welded orotherwise rigidly secured to upright slide plates 69. The lower edges ofthe slide plates 69 are out-turned at right `angles, as indicated by thereference character 70 to form slides and these slides are mounted formovement in depressed channel ways 71 formed in the bottom 18 of thedrawer. The upper ends of the slide plates 69 are bent outwardly to formslide flanges 72 -and these slide flanges 72 yare received in the upperbent back portions 33 of the side walls 19 of the drawer.` The followerpanel 30 also includes the main body plate portion 73 and this plateportion extends shown.

substantially the full width of the drawer and is pivotally mounted atits lower edge on the forward end of the cross strip 68, as at 74. Thefront of the follower body plate 73 is preferably left smooth forengagement with the iiles and the body plate 73, the cross strip 68 andthe slide plates 69 can fbe moved back and forward in the drawer asa/unit, and the latch means 29, heretofore mentioned, is provided forholding the follower panel in a selected position in the drawer relativeto the front wall 21.

The latch `means 29 includes latch bars 75 and the lower`V ends of theselatch bars slidably and rockably extend through guide openings 76 formedin the cross strip 68, and the extreme lower ends of the latch bars areadapted to engage in selected openings 28 in the rack bars 26. Theupperv ends of the latch bars 75 are connected together for synchronousmovement by a bridge plate 77 and this plate in turn is rigidly securedto a slide plate 78 mounted for vertical sliding movement in a guide. 79carried by the rear face of the body portion 73y of the follower. Theupper edge of the slide plate 78 constitutes a finger piece for raisingthe slide plate 78 and the latch bars 75 out of engagement with the rackbars 26. An expansion spring 80 engages the top of the slide plate 78and normally urges the slide plate and the latch bar 75'A to a lowerposition for engagement with the rack bars 26. The upper end of thespring engages a folded back finishing flange 81 formed on the upperedge of the body portion 73 of the panel. If desired, a `guide barrel 82for theI spring 80 can be welded or otherwise fastened to the rear faceof the body portion of the follower panel. The latch bars 75 are, asjust described, carried by the body portion 73 of the follower panel andconsequently, the latch bars 75 rock with the body portion of the panelwhen the body portion is swung on its hinge 74. The swinging of the bodyportion does not affect the latch bars 75 in that, the lower ends of thelatch bars merely swing or tilt in the keeper openings 28.

The means 67 provided for holding and latching the body portion 73 ofthe panel in a rearward tilted position includes crank shaped latch arms83. The crank shaped latch arms are formed on rock shafts 8-4 mounted inbearing barrels carried by the rear face of the follower panel. Theterminals of the crank arms extend through and are received in keyhole`slots 86 formed in the side slide plates 69 of thefollower. The keyholeslots 86 include at their rear ends keeper notches 87. The crank shapedlatch arms 83 are, as stated, formed on the outer ends of the shafts 84and the inner ends of the shafts 814 have Iformed thereon operatinghandles yS8 whereby the shafts and the latch arms can be operatedmanually. At this point, it is to be noted that the outer ends of thecrank shaped latch arm 83 extend above the operating `hars 52, thepurpose of which will be later more clearly pointed out. Contractle coilsprings 89 are employed for normally holding the latch arms 83 in alowered position against the bottom walls or edges of the keyhole slots86, so that when the body portion 73 of the follower is vswung on itscross ystrip 68 the latch arms will automatically snap into the keepernotches 87. This will hold the tbody portion ofthe follower in arearward tilted position as shown in dotted lines in FEGURE 4 of thedrawings. The lower ends of the springs 89 are connected to the rockshafts k84 at the operating handles 88 and the upper ends of the springscan be secured to the body portion of the panel or to the slide plates78 as Obviously, the latch arms 83 positioned in the keyhole slots 86limit the forward and rearward swinging movement of the body portion ofthe panel and normally the body portion of the panel is urged and heldin a vertical position -by a strong leaf spring 98. This spring has itslower end rigidly secured to the cross plate 68 and the main portionthereof bears against the rear face ofthe body portion 73 of thefollower panel. The spring 90, again, holds the follower in asubstantially upright position lwith the latch arms in the forward ends`of the keyhole slots 86 (see lFIGURES 4 and 5-). When it is -desired totilt the `body portion of the panel the operator merely pushesrearwardly on the upper edge of the panel so as to rock the panel on thehinge 74 against the inlluence of the leaf spring 90. The latch arms 83will ride rearwardly in the keyhole slots 86y and when the latch arms 83reach the keeper notches y87 the springs 89 wil-l rock the shafts 34-and move the latch anms into the keeper notches. This will hold thefollower' in its tilted position. As the latch arms 8? move into thekeeper notches 87 the operating handles `67 swing upwardly andrearwardly as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to release the panelso that the same will return to its upright position the handles `67 arepressed inwardly toward the rear face of the panel. This will rock theshafts 84 and lift the latch arms 83 out of the keeper notches 87.

Now considering that the follower panel is in a tilted position, asshown in FIGURE 2, and the drawer is being slid to its closed positionagainst the cabinet C. As the rear ends of the rods 52 strike the rearwall l5 of the cabinet, the rods 52 will be moved forwardly andupwardly. This upward forward movement will lift the latch arms 33 fromout of the keeper notches 37 and the panel will then automaticallyreturn to its upright position under the influence of its spring 90.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the front wall 21 ofthe drawer can be moved back and fort-h to its tilted or uprightposition independently of the follower panel 30 and that the followerpanel in turn can be moved to a tilted or upright position independentlyof the front wall of the drawer. Thus, to expand the contents of thedrawer either the front wall 21 or the follower panel 30 can -be tilted,or both the front wall and the follower panel can be tilted. Where boththe front wall 21 and the panel 30 are tilted, ample room is provided inthe drawer for permitting the opening of a selected le to momentarilylook into the contents thereof.

When both the front wall and follower panel are in their tiltedpositions and the drawer is moved to a closed position, then both thefront of the drawer and the follower panel will be automaticallyreleased so that the same will 'move tol upright positions.

It is to be also noted that if either the front wall 21 or followerpanel 30 is in a tilted position and the drawer is moved to a closedposition, that the operating bars 52 will operate automatically torelease the latch mechanism of the member which is tilted.

The fact that the drawer front 21 may be operated by itself, and lthefact that the follower panel 30 may be operated by itself, provides anexceptionally easy-operating highly flexible unit. The independentoperation of the drawer -front and follower panel eliminates strainotherwise required to operate the expanding feature, where the followerand drawer front are connected together, and must function in oneoperation. However, in our present construction, there is nothing toprevent the operation of .the drawer front 2l and the follower panelIboth at the same time, if desired, but for all general purposes ofroutine filing, it is suicient to tilt either the front wall forward orthe follower panel backward, depending upon the area of the drawer whichis being worked. Yet again, when full visibility is desired, so thatcorrespondence may be reached to refer to same without even removing thefolder from the drawer, both the drawer fro-nt and follower panel may betilted to obtain the full, maximum work `space and visibility.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spiritor the scope of this invention, but what we claim as new is:

l. In a file cabinet drawer of the type including a hinged front wallmounted for swinging movement to a closed upright position and to aforward tilting position and a follower panel movable toward and awayfrom the frontwall and including a main body portion hingedly mountedfor swinging movement to an upright position and to a rearward tiltedposition; means for latching the front wall in a tilted positionindependently of the follower panel, means for independently latchingthe body portion of the follower panel in a tilted position, wherebyeither the front wall or the body portion of the follower panel can betilted independently of the other, manually operable means for releasingthe latch means of the front wall to permit the moving of the front wallto a closed position, and manually operable means for releasing thelatch means of the body portion of the follower panel to permit thereturn of the body portion of the follower panel to a raised position.

2. In a tile cabinet drawer of the type embodying a swinging front wallmovable to an upright closed position and to a forward tilted positionand a follower panel movable toward and away from the front wall andincluding a main body portion movable to an upright position and to arearward tilted position; means for latching the front wall in a forwardtilted position, means for latching lthe body portion of the followerpanel in a rearward tilted position, independent manually operable meansfor releasing the latch means of the front wall to permit the front wallto return to an upright position and for releasing the latch means ofthe body portion of the follower panel to permit the body portion toreturn to an upright position, and automatic means operable by movementof the file drawer into a cabinet for releasing said latch means of thefront wall and the body portion of the follower panel. i

3. In a tile cabinet drawer of the type including a swinging front wallmovable to an upright closed position and to a forward tilted positionand a follower panel movable toward and away from the front wall andincluding a main body portion mounted for swinging movement to anupright position and to a rearward tilted position; means for latchingthe front wall Vin a forward tilted position, means for latching thebody portion of the follower panel in a rearward tilted position andautomatic means operable upon the movement of the drawer into a cabinetfor releasing the latch means of the front wall, should the front wallbe tilted, and for releasing the latch means of the body portion of thefollower panel should the body portion of the follower panel be tilted,said means also functioning for simultaneously operating both the latchmeans of the front wall and the body portion of the follower panel-should both the front wall and body portion of the follower panel betilted.

4. In a le cabinet drawer of the type including a swinging front wallmovable to an upright closed position and to a forward tilted positionand a follower panel movable toward and away from the front wall andincluding a main body portion mounted for swinging movement to anupright position and to a rearward tilted position; means for latchingthe front wall in a forward tilting position, means for latching thebody portion of the follower panel in a rearward tilted position,automatic means operable upon the movement of the drawer into a cabinetfor releasing the latch means of the front wall should the front wall betilted, and for releasing the latch means of the body portion of thefollower panel should the body portion of the follower panel be tilted,said means also functioning for simultaneously operating both the latchmeans of the front wall and the body portion of the follower panelshould both the front wall and body portion of the follower panel betilted, and independent manually operable means for releasing the latchmeans of the front wall and the latch means for the body portion of thefollower panel.

5. In a file cabinet drawer of the type including a swinging front wallmovable to an upright closed position and to a forward tilted positionand a follower panel movable toward and away from the front wall andincluding a main body portion mounted for swinging movement to anupright position and to a rearward tilted position; means for latchingthe front wall in a forward tilting position, means for latching thebody portion of the follower panel in a rearward tilted position,automatic means operable upon the movement of the drawer into a cabinetfor releasing the latch means of the front wall should the front wall betilted, and for releasing the latch means of the body portion of thefollower panel should the body portion of the follower panel be tilted,said means also functioning for simultaneously operating both the latchmeans of the front wall and the body portion of the follower panelshould both the front wall and body portion of the follower panel betilted, and independent manually operable means for releasing the latchmeans of the front wall and the latch means for the body portion of thefollower panel, and spring means normally urging the front wall to aclosed position and the body portion of the follower panel to a raisedposition.

6. In a file cabinet drawer of the type including bottom, side and frontwalls with the front wall hinged to the bottom wall for swingingmovement to an upright position and to a forward tilted position andhaving a follower panel slidably carried by the side walls toward andaway from the front wall and including a swinging body portion movableto an upright position and to a rearward tilted position, latch meansfor holding the front wall in a forward tilted position, independentlatch means for holding the body portion of the front panel in arearward tilted position, automatic means operable upon the movement ofthe drawer into a file cabinet for releasing either one or both of thelatch means for the front wall and body portion of the follower panel,and said latch means and automatic means for operating the latch meansbeing carried by and housed within portions of the side walls of thedrawer.

7. In a le cabinet drawer of the type including a bottom wall, sidewalls and a front wall hingedly secured to Ithe bottom wall for swingingmovement to a forward tilted position and to an upright closed positionand having a follower panel slidably carried by the side walls andmovable toward and away from the front wall and including a main bodyportion mounted for swinging movement to a rearward tilted position andto an upright position, means for latching the front wall in a forwardtilted position, spring means normally tending to return the front wallto an upright position upon release of said latching means, latch meansfor holding the body portion of the follower panel in a rearward tiltedposition, springv means normally urging the body portion of the followerpanel to an upright position upon release of its latch means, Vmanuallyoperable means for releasing the latch means for the front wall,manually operable means for releasing the latch means of the bodyportion of the follower panel, and automatic operable means actuatedupon the inward movement of the drawer into a le cabinet for operatingthe latch means of the front wall and the latch means for the bodyportion of the follower panel.

8. In a file cabinet drawer of the type including a bottom wall, sidewalls and a front wall hingedly secured to the bottom wall for swingingmovement to a forward tilted position and to an upright yclosed positionand having a follower panel slidably carried by the side walls andmovable toward and away from the front wall and including a main bodyportion mounted for swinging movement to a rearward tilted position andto an upright position, means for latching the front wall in a forwardtilted position, spring means normally tending to return the front wallto an upright position upon release of said latching means, latch meansfor holding the body portion of the follower panel in a rearward tiltedposition, spring means normally urging the body portion of the followerpanel to an upright position upon release of -its latch means, manuallyoperable means for releasing the latch means for the front Iwall,manually operable means for releasing the latch means of the bodyportion ofthe follower panel,

and automatic operable means actuated upon the inward movement of thedrawer into a le cabinet for operating the latch means of the front walland the latch means for the body portion of the follower panel, the sidewalls being channeled outwardly to provide ways for receiving the latchmeans of the front wall and the body portion of the follower, and saidautomatic operable latch releasing means.

9. In a file cabinet including a rear wall and a side wall, a drawerslidably mounted in the cabinet including a bottom wall, spacedlongitudinally extending side walls and a front wall hingedly connectedto the forward end of the bottom wall and movable to a forward tiltedposition and to an upright closed position, a follower panel slidablymounted in the drawer and movable toward and away from the front walland including a main body portion mounted for swinging movement to arearward tilted position and to an upright position, latch means forholding the front :wall in a forward tilted position, independent latchmeans for holding the body portion of the follower panel in a rearwardtilted position, manually operable means for releasing the latch meansof the front wall, manually operable means for releasing the latch meansof the body portion of the follower panel and automatic means foroperating the latches of the front wall and the body portion of thefollower panel should the front wall be tilted or the body portion betilted or both the front wall and the body portion be tilted includingoperating bars carried by the side walls of the drawer, links pivotallysecured to the bars and to the side walls of the drawer, spring meansnormally holding the links in a tilted rearward position with the barsin a rearward lowered position and with the bars extending beyond therear end of the drawer, whereby upon closing movement of the drawer inthe cabinet the rear ends of the bars will engage the rear wall of the4cabinet and be moved forwardly against said mentioned spring means,.forward movement of the bars actuating said links for raising the barsupward and into actuating engagement with the latches of the front walland the body port-ion of the follower panel should either the front wallbe tilted or the body portion be tilted or -both tilted, and saidmentioned spring means functioning to again move the links to a rearwardtilted position and the bars to a lowered position away from the latchmeans vupon the opening of the drawer in the cabinet.

l0. A tile cabinet drawer comprising a bottom Wall, side walls and afront wall hingedly connected at its lower end to the forward end of thebottom wall, pivoted latch plates carried by the front wall, guideplates carried by the side walls and having keyhole slots thereinterminating at their forward ends in keeper notches, said latch platesbeing slidably received between the side walls and the guide plates,latch pins carried by the inner ends of the latch plates slidablymounted in said slots, said keeper pins being movable in the keepernotches bythe weight of the latch plates upon forward tilting movementof the front wall, and a linger operated release plate movable intoengagement with the lower ends of the latch plates for swinging saidlatch plates on their pivots and for moving the latch pins out of thekeeper notches.

l1. A ltile cabinet drawer -as defined in claim l0, and spring meansnormally urging the front wall to a closed upright position upon therelease of the latch plates.

l2. A ltile cabinet drawer as defined in claim l0, and means forautomatically swinging the latch plates upon their pivots and for movingthe latch pins out of the keeper notches including longitudinallyextending latch bars normally' disposed below said pins, links pivotallyconnecting the bars to the side walls of the drawer, spring meansnormally holding the lbars in ia rearward position with the links in alowered tilted position and with the `bars extending beyond the rear endof the drawer for engagement with a file cabinet upon the closing of thedrawer, forward movement of the bars rocking said links l 1 tov avertical position for raising said bars in engagement with the latchpins to move said pins out of the keeper notches.

13. A tile cabinet `drawer comprising a bottom wall, side walls and afront wall hingedly connected at its lower end to the forward end of thebottom Wall, pivoted latch plates carried by the front wall, guideplates carried by the side walls and having keyhole slots thereinterminating at their forward ends in keeper notches, said latch platesbeing slidably received between the side walls and the guide plates,latch pins carried by the inner ends of the latch plates slidablymounted in said slots, said keeper pins being movable in the keepernotches by the weight of the latch plates upon forward tilting movementof the front Wall, and a linger operated release plate movable into.engagement with the lower ends of the latch plates for swinging saidlatch plates on their pivots and for moving the latch pins ont or" thekeeper notches, and a follower panel slidably mounted in the drawertoward and away from the front wall including a bottom cross strip,slide plates secured to the terminals of the cross strip and slidablycarried by the side walls, and a main body portion'hinged to the crossstrip for swinging movement to a rearward tilted position and to araised upright position, means for latching the body portion in a reartilted position including crank arms rockably mounted on the bodyportion terminating in outwardly extending pins, the slide plates havingkeyhole slots receiving said pins and .said slots terminating in keepernotches for the pins when the body portion is in a tilted position,spring means normally holding the crank arms in a lowered position withthe pins in the keeper notches, manually operable means for actuatingthe crank arms to raise the pins out of the keeper notches, andautomatic means for operating the latch plates of the front wall and thecrank arms of the follower panel when the `drawer is moved to a closedposition in a cabinet including longitudinally extending operating barsmounted in close proximity to the side Walls and normally disposed belowthe latch pins of the latch means for the front wall and the latch meansfor the body portieri of the panel, links pivotally connecting t'ne barsto the side walls, spring means normally holding the links in a downwardtilted position with the bars in a rearward lowered position, forwardmovement of the bars against the tension of said spring means moving thelinks to a vertical position and the bars in a raised position forlifting said latch pins out of their respective keeper notches.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,194Huening Apr. l2, 1904 821,576 Athey May 22, 1906 1,706,085 Straubel Mar.19, 1929 1,892,020 Straubel n Dec. 27, 1932 1,899,530 Schade s Feb. 28,1933 2,676,866 Woodin Apr. 27, 1954 2,917,052 Van Donk Dec. 15, 1959

